Mick McCarthy is confident Tore Andr&#xE9; Flo can play a key role in his Sunderland revolution after praising the Premiership quality of the Black Cats' record buy.

Kevin Phillips' strike partner has managed just six goals following his &#xA3;6.75m transfer from Rangers and has failed to find the net since December.

However, McCarthy insists the Norwegian international has not been aided by those who continue to compare him to Niall Quinn and feels Flo still has time to save his season.

"I feel for Tore Andr&#xE9;," mused McCarthy, who seems likely to stick with the former Rangers forward against Bolton today despite his miserable run in front of goal.

"In my opinion he's been a little bit hard done by. He's not Niall Quinn and never will be.

"I do expect him to win one or two headers but that's never been what his game's all about. He's a great footballer.

"Just because he's 6ft 4in people think he's Quinny but he's not, and surely people must be able to see that.

"He's had to live up to Niall's reputation on Wearside and arrived at the club on the back of Quinny's best years for the club. It can't have been easy."

McCarthy is one of Quinn's biggest fans but the former Republic of Ireland boss feels Flo can enjoy a similarly successful spell at Sunderland given his impressive track record and impressive first touch. "What I do know is that Tore Andr&#xE9; can play," added the Black Cats' new boss. "Perhaps he doesn't look at his best when players hoist long balls into the box but he has a great touch for a big man.

"You don't do what he did at Chelsea, or earn the moves he has earned over the years, without being able to play at the very highest level. It just doesn't happen. If you can't hack it then you get released as an apprentice - you don't get snapped up by some of the biggest clubs in Britain.

"He can be a crucial player for me. He's not been a disappointment to me, whatever has happened before."

McCarthy must hand late fitness tests to Kevin Kilbane, Jason McAteer and Jody Craddock before he finalises his first Sunderland side and the Barnsley-born coach admitted: "The situation is a little bit worse than when I arrived.

"They are three players who, when I came here, I thought it's great to have them. But all of them are doubts. We've got some very good footballers at this club and I've been pleasantly surprised with what I've seen in training.

"We've got a few injuries, and Gavin McCann is suspended, but there's nothing we can do about that now.